All articles tagged with #karl anthony towns
The piece argues that Scottie Barnes was unfairly left off the All-NBA teams, despite an elite defensive presence and a lead role for Toronto as they ranked fifth in the East, and also spotlights Deni Avdija and Karl-Anthony Towns as notable snubs amid the 15 players named to the three All-NBA squads.
Karl-Anthony Towns emerged as a playoff-ready playmaking hub for the Knicks, posting a high assist rate and a postseason-high 10 assists in the Hawks series; Ajay Mitchell boosted OKC with 22.5 points and 6 assists per game, easing questions about secondary creation; San Antonio Spurs fans enjoyed the Wembanyama era alongside Dylan Harper’s breakout; Rui Hachimura set a historic postseason shooting pace and becomes a prime free-agent target; off the court, Daryl Morey was fired by the Sixers, and Julius Randle’s efficiency slump against the Spurs capped a disappointing run.
Brunson delivered in crunch time, scoring eight of his 26 in the fourth and hitting the go-ahead jumper as the Knicks beat the 76ers 108-102 in Game 2. Karl-Anthony Towns, after early foul trouble, finished with 20 points, 10 rebounds and seven assists to lead New York, especially against a 76ers lineup without Joel Embiid. Tyrese Maxey was held to seven points after halftime, and Philadelphia couldn’t maintain momentum, leaving the Knicks up 2-0 in the series.
The Knicks’ offense moved like clockwork in Game 1 of the East semifinals, shooting 53-for-84 and romping the 76ers 137-98. Jalen Brunson led with 35 points, exploiting drop coverage, while Karl-Anthony Towns, OG Anunoby and Mikal Bridges provided multiple scoring threats and Josh Hart connected defense to offense. The unit functioned as a cohesive, unselfish system — a rapid sequence of actions that leaves defenses guessing — validating coach Mike Brown’s concept-driven approach and signaling a potential playoff peak for New York.
In Game 6, the Knicks routed the Hawks 140-89 as Karl-Anthony Towns joined an elite Knicks playoff club; Jalen Brunson contributed 17 points and eight assists in 29 minutes with a plus-41 as the blowout limited his workload.
Karl-Anthony Towns posted the Knicks’ first playoff triple-double (20 points, 10 rebounds, 10 assists) to help New York pull away in the third quarter and beat Atlanta 114-98 in Game 4. With Jalen Brunson out, Josh Hart provided energy with 10 points and 9 rebounds, while Jalen Johnson led the Hawks with 14 on 4-for-12 shooting as OG Anunoby clamped him and Atlanta shot just 24.4% from three.
Jalen Brunson opened Game 1 with 19 points in the first quarter and finished with 28 as the Knicks beat the Hawks 113-102; Karl-Anthony Towns had a rocky start but closed with a strong fourth quarter to finish with 25 points and 8 rebounds, while the postgame report card described the effort as solid overall with room for improvement.
The Knicks opened the playoff series with a 113-102 win over the Hawks at Madison Square Garden, led by Jalen Brunson’s 28 points (including a 19-point first quarter) and seven assists, with Karl-Anthony Towns adding 25 points, eight rebounds, four assists and three blocks; the Hawks cooled after a high-scoring first half, scoring 47 points in the second half as Nickeil Alexander-Walker struggled.
Atlanta faces a Towns-sized mismatch in the Knicks-Hawks first round, with an undersized frontcourt (thinned by Jock Landale’s injury) struggling to contain Karl-Anthony Towns and prompting questions about how the Hawks will adjust defensively in the playoffs.
New York failed to feed Karl-Anthony Towns early as a center-less Pistons squad—without Jalen Duren and Isaiah Stewart due to suspensions—built a halftime lead and held on for the win. Towns finished with 21 points, 11 rebounds and 4 assists but only took three shots in the first half, then provided a spark in the third quarter. Coach Mike Brown said the Knicks will continue to run their system and search for ways to free Towns, who is having a down shooting season. The Knicks dropped the game and sit 0-3 in a stretch against the East’s No. 1 seed.
Jalen Brunson, joined by Karl-Anthony Towns and Allan Houston with Rick Brunson as celebrity passer, powered Team Knicks to the Kia Shooting Stars Challenge title at All-Star Weekend, defeating Team Cameron 47-38 in the final after a 31-point first-round showing; clutch baskets from Brunson and Houston sealed the win. The weekend also saw Damian Lillard win the 3-point contest and Keshad Johnson win the slam dunk contest.
Karl-Anthony Towns dismissed ongoing trade rumors and said he’s focused on winning, noting he doesn’t read social media and there’s no talk of trading him as the deadline nears. The Knicks aren’t reportedly shopping him, despite speculation fueled by Giannis Antetokounmpo’s availability chatter. Towns, an All-NBA pick last season, is posting career-lows but contributed a season-high 22 rebounds in a 119-92 win over the Raptors, while teammates dealt with injuries and questionable status ahead of the game.
Knicks trade chatter centers on Karl-Anthony Towns, with some reports saying talks exist and others denying it; rival teams think NYK is gauging Towns’ market while downplaying discussions. Stein’s latest notes potential interest in Jrue Holiday, though Knicks sources emphasize smaller moves. Anthony Davis appears unlikely to be traded before the deadline, while Tari Eason is off-limits for Houston. Overall, the situation remains speculative as the deadline approaches.
Knicks coach Mike Brown publicly criticized Karl-Anthony Towns for a lazy defensive sequence late in the second quarter of a 112-101 loss to the Kings, saying Towns didn’t sprint back on defense after a strip and allowed a long rebound leading to an open 3. Brown and teammates stressed that defense was the bigger issue, with Josh Hart calling the night undisciplined as New York shot poorly from three and faced a high free-throw toll.
Josh Hart returned from a right ankle sprain to energize the Knicks with 18 points and 6 assists in a 123-114 win over the Portland Trail Blazers, as New York overcame Karl-Anthony Towns being benched late and pulled away in the final minutes; OG Anunoby added 24 points, and Hart's hustle sparked the comeback with key plays in the closing stretch.